4:45 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020
Florida State University President John Thrasher and First Lady Jean Thrasher have tested positive for COVID-19.
President Thrasher learned of his positive result at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday after taking a PCR test earlier in the day. Mrs. Thrasher learned of her positive diagnosis late Monday night after a recent stay in the hospital and a local rehabilitation facility for an unrelated condition.
President and Mrs. Thrasher are isolating at home and monitoring their symptoms. Both are feeling well at this time, and the president is working from home.
President Thrasher is regularly tested for COVID-19 and tested negative as recently as Friday. With that information, Thrasher attended Saturday’s football game and took appropriate precautions. Mrs. Thrasher was not in attendance.
FSU officials in conjunction with public health authorities are conducting contact tracing, and those who have been in close contact with the Thrashers should follow CDC guidelines. Some members of the president’s staff who worked closely with Thrasher in recent days were tested today and received negative results.
Thrasher has maintained a regular work schedule throughout the pandemic; however, he has limited in-person meetings and events and has primarily engaged with university constituents via Zoom meetings, virtual events, video messages and social media.
Thrasher has been a strong proponent of face coverings and social distancing and has regularly communicated with the campus community about FSU’s COVID-19 protocols and expectations. The university remains open this fall and is offering mostly remote instruction with some face-to-face classes.
COVID-19 cases on campus trended downward last week with a 2 percent positivity rate after a surge in early September.